The Jia family has always been the one to suck the blood of others; when have they ever been the ones to suffer losses? This time, Jia Zhangshi took out over four hundred yuan, returning all the money they had earned from bloodsucking over the years. How could Jia Zhangshi not feel heartbroken!
After causing such a ruckus with Yi Zhonghai, Jia Zhangshi played the role of the bad cop, and to ease the situation later, they would still need Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu to step in.
As for asking Qin Huairu to go and borrow back the money that Shazhu donated, it sounds nice to say it's a loan! But when has the Jia family ever returned borrowed money?
He Yuzhu was also pondering whether he really was the big fool his younger siblings claimed he was. The more he thought about it, the more it felt wrong—wasn't he just a big fool? At twenty-four or twenty-five years old, he was unmarried, without a partner, and even had no savings. Was he really going to live like this for the rest of his life?
Meanwhile, after rummaging through the food in the lunchbox, Jia Zhangshi caught a whiff of something delicious!
"Dongxu, is someone in the courtyard cooking something tasty again?"
Qin Huairu sighed and said, "Mom, it's He Yucheng. He caught a big fish and brought it back today!"
Upon hearing that it was about He Yucheng again, Jia Zhangshi exclaimed, "Qin Huairu, you're useless! Don't you know why I'm hurt? It's because of that fool from the He family! Hurry up and bring me that fish!"
Qin Huairu looked troubled. Just yesterday, there had been such a commotion at home, and their family's secrets had been exposed. Now, if she went out to borrow things again, did they really think others were fools?
She glanced at Jia Dongxu, who also recalled what Yi Zhonghai had said in the hospital, warning him to keep his mother in check. Otherwise, if they angered everyone in the courtyard, they wouldn't be able to stay there anymore.
"Alright, Mom, can you please behave a little? Don't you think there's enough trouble already?"
When her eldest son reprimanded her, Jia Zhangshi looked at Jia Dongxu in disbelief, then pointed at him, trembling, and said, "D-Dongxu, I'm your mother! How can you say I'm not behaving? You've really forgotten your roots after marrying a wife! Qin Huairu, you wicked woman, it's all your fault for leading my son astray! If it weren't for you, how could he dare? How could he dare! Old Jia, I can't go on living! Take me with you! My son is unfilial! I can't live anymore!"
Hearing the commotion from the Jia family, those who were eating quickly brought their bowls to the courtyard to watch the excitement!
The people in the courtyard truly knew what kind of person Jia Zhangshi was. Interestingly, the food in the courtyard today was unusually good.
Everyone knew that the Jia family borrowed money with no intention of paying it back~ It was a well-known fact in the courtyard. Now that they saw money coming back, the donations made to the Jia family had all been returned. Shouldn't they buy some meat to nourish their family properly?
He Yushui, wearing new clothes, stood outside with He Yucheng, also watching the commotion!
Third Uncle saw He Yucheng and He Yushui eating rice and envied them, saying, "Oh, Yucheng, your meals are quite good today, with rice and fish!"
Not bothering to be polite with Yan Fugui, He Yucheng directly steered the conversation towards the Jia family, saying helplessly, "This is enough! Early this morning, we sent Yi Zhonghai to the hospital, and now there's this commotion! I say, Third Uncle, wasn't Yi Zhonghai always threatening everyone in the courtyard? Why don't we gather together and kick that old hag out of the Jia family?"
This was a common tactic used by Yi Zhonghai to threaten residents who didn't listen, and of course, Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui had used it as well. But last night, Director Wang had announced in front of all the residents that the courtyard's managing elder had no such authority, causing the status of several elders to plummet!
Over the years, relying on his position as the managing elder, several old men had made a mess of things and offended quite a few people. Like last night, Yi Zhonghai was beaten and didn't dare to spread the word, knowing he was in the wrong. This silent loss was something he had to endure; otherwise, it would escalate, and people would come after him!
This time, he endured it, vented his anger, and the matter passed.
Hearing He Yucheng bring up old grievances, Yan Fugui chuckled awkwardly, "Hey, Yucheng, why are you bringing up old stories? That's all in the past. When Yi Zhonghai comes back, let him decide if he wants the courtyard's managing elder to help mediate. If he doesn't want that, then let them make a fuss!"
He Yucheng sneered inwardly~ If only it had been like this earlier, there wouldn't be so many issues! Why was Jia Zhangshi so arrogant? It was all because Yi Zhonghai had spoiled her.
As for the Jia family, seeing the crowd outside watching the excitement, Jia Dongxu had reached his limit with his mother. He slammed the table and shouted, "Shut up! If you keep babbling, I swear I'll send you back to the countryside! Do you think I've offended enough people? Do you want to turn against everyone in the courtyard? If that happens, no one will care about you, and you'll be happy, right?"
Jia Zhangshi looked at her angry eldest son in disbelief. Yes, she was a woman, but she wasn't foolish. After so many years of being domineering in the courtyard, what gave her the confidence? It was her eldest son! Now that her son was angry, she, the paper tiger, suddenly lost her confidence.
As for going to find Yi Zhonghai? Today, after offending him like this, he might think of ways to deal with her.
The people in the courtyard looked as if they had seen a ghost. Usually, they all knew how oppressed Jia Dongxu was at home, and now he dared to resist! Moreover, Jia Zhangshi truly didn't dare to make a scene anymore! Jia Dongxu was actually standing up!
Qin Huairu felt a rush of relief. Yesterday, Jia Zhangshi had inexplicably fallen off the table and stepped on a nail when she went out. This morning, because she went to ask Yi Zhonghai for money, she got hurt again. Qin Huairu felt so satisfied.
This old hag finally got her comeuppance!
Just because Jia Dongxu yelled at Jia Zhangshi, the courtyard fell silent for a moment. Seeing her angry eldest son, Jia Zhangshi surprisingly didn't dare to make a scene anymore. Then she glanced at Qin Huairu, who was standing aside, and sternly said, "Qin Huairu, what are you still standing there for? Hurry up and cook! If my son or grandson goes hungry, I swear I won't spare you!"
Alright, people are indeed like this; they only pick on the weak!
Qin Huairu was good at pretending. She knew what men liked in women~ Acting pitiful, she said to Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, we have no food left at home. What am I supposed to cook with?"
"No food? Why don't you go borrow some?"
"Boom!"
As if they had made an agreement, when the courtyard heard that the Jia family wanted to borrow food, everyone quickly returned to their own homes~ each looking for their own mothers! The courtyard was suddenly empty!
"Dongxu!"
At this moment, being asked to go borrow food, Qin Huairu could guarantee that she wouldn't be able to borrow a single grain of rice, so she called out to Jia Dongxu!
After that loud shout from Jia Dongxu, he had already exhausted all the anger he had bottled up over the years. Money was a man's courage, and the one in charge of the money at home was Jia Zhangshi. Without money, there was no confidence in front of the family, and no status in society. Now, asking him to argue with Jia Zhangshi was already beyond his courage!
Seeing Jia Dongxu, who looked like a useless person, Qin Huairu left the house in tears!